last night (as every night) i slept under the stars that hang on my headboard. i woke early to the sun streaming in the room and hugged my family before i rolled out of bed to make some coffee. (instagram challenge: where i slept)
one of the most lovely streets in norrköping.
yes. it smells as good as it looks.
today, like all other swedes everywhere, i bought strawberries for the midsummer celebration tomorrow. strawberries are a must during midsummer. and i successfully tasted (thanks to the cute middle-easter man selling them who offered me a chance to eat one after another.) and bought tons of yummy, fresh, swedish-grown strawberries. yep. i buy local.
this afternoon i spent some time on a blanket outside with my love. the weather was… how can i describe it best? p.e.r.f.e.c.t.
the amazing blue sky made a perfect background for this little flower i picked.
hippie love.
the sunset on the longest day of the year. 11:45 pm. crazy, huh?
you know, all of today was not sunshine and fresh strawberries. my life is real, filled with real pain & real problems. today, there were some very crappy, difficult moments. but, right now i sit watching the sun set on this first full day of summer. and as i sit here, the evening closing in around me, reflecting on my day and all the ups & downs, i realize once again the strength of loving someone. and of being loved. my amazing love and i weathered this day together… the sunshine & the storms.
it’s true that there are many moments in many days that i’d love to skip over or erase, but i must remember that these are just moments. they will pass. and there is always some beauty surrounding even the bleakest, darkest, most painful & frustrating moments.
so, it may look like my life is perfect. that everything is, in fact, sunshine & strawberries. well, it’s not. it’s just that i try to practice mindfulness, being present in the moment. i soak in all the moments that come my way; but those dark & scary ones, i know that they do not last. i work very hard (and write in my personal journal) all of my thoughts, feelings, fears. sometimes i share them here. but, more than a place to write my every thought, this blog has become a place for me to renew myself and to offer inspiration & hope, for those are my most foundational beliefs. all of the pain exists, oh yeah. and i feel every little bit of it. but, the love, the peace, the hope… they all exist too. but they do not only exist, they win.
hope you’ve had a beautiful first day of summer! get some vitamin d whenever you can. it’ll do you good!
peace, love, & strawberries.
I love your photos and think you have reflected beautifully what a day can hold, both it’s ups and downs.
thank you so much for your comment and for stopping by my blog! i love meeting new readers. i hope that your monday is full of more ups than downs, and that you’ll visit me here again. 🙂 peace.
Many thanks Liz, I look forward to reading more of your great posts xx.
sounds like a peaceful day! I think I might have a similar head board – minus the stars! hehe
IKEA headboard. 🙂
Mine, too! 🙂